Lucas Paqueta is still “not okay” after being investigated for spot-fixing by the Football Association (FA), Nuno Espirito Santo said following the Brazilian’s red card versus Liverpool.
Paqueta received a bizarre red card during Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to the Premier League champions, seeing yellow twice in 67 seconds, both for dissent.
After his dismissal, Paqueta took to social media to vent his frustration at the FA, having been cleared of deliberately receiving four yellow cards in Premier League matches between November 2022 and August 2023.
The midfielder, who was warned about his conduct after the FA said he did not cooperate with that probe, wrote on X: “It’s ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation.
“Perhaps this ridiculous behaviour is just a reflection of everything I’ve had to endure and, it seems, have to continue enduring! I’m sorry I’m not perfect.”
Paqueta will be suspended for the Hammers’ trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Thursday, and Nuno said the investigation is something that continues to affect him.
“He is not okay,” Nuno said of Paqueta. “He is suffering, he is disappointed and upset.
“He realises the mistake that he made, and he is willing to move forward. Sometimes people are not aware of the problems that football players endure.
“But I think he is going to overcome this situation.”
Paqueta – whose four goals make him West Ham’s joint-leading scorer this season – will be eligible to return to action when Nuno’s team visit Brighton on Sunday.
